Federal authorities seized approximately $20 million in cash hidden inside a box spring in a Massachusetts apartment earlier this month.

The Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's office said a Brazilian man was arrested in connection with conspiring to launder proceeds of the massive TelexFree pyramid scheme.

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Cleber Rene Rizerio Rocha, 28, was charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering.

The cash seizure was made in connection with an investigation into TelexFree, a Marlborough, Massachusetts-based company that purportedly sold VOIP telephone service.

Authorities tweeted a photo Monday of what appears to be thousands of bills shoved inside the box spring of the bed.

Twitter/US Attorney MA

TelexFree had few customers and made most of its revenue from people buying into the company with a promise of payouts for posting online ads for it, prosecutors have said. They were paid with money from new recruits, often friends and family of earlier investors.

Although initially aimed at Brazilian immigrants to Massachusetts, authorities allege almost 1 million people worldwide were swindled out of nearly $1.8 billion.

TelexFree filed for bankruptcy in 2014, its assets frozen, and its two principals were indicted on federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy.

One of them, former chief executive James Merrill, pleaded guilty in October and awaits sentencing on Feb. 2.

The other, Carlos Wanzeler, fled to his native Brazil where he remains, U.S. prosecutors said.

Rocha was part of a scheme to transfer millions of dollars of hidden TelexFree assets to Brazil by laundering the cash through Hong Kong, prosecutors said.

According to court documents, Rocha, acting as a courier for Wanzeler's nephew, flew from Brazil to New York City a few days ago. Rocha then met with a cooperating witness at a restaurant in Hudson, Massachusetts, and gave him a suitcase containing $2.2 million.

After the meeting, agents followed Rocha to the Westborough apartment and later arrested him.